Visa-free regime between Russia and the EU may be introduced already in 2014

Visa-free regime between Russia and the European Union may be introduced before the Olympics-2014 in Sochi, – informs Vladimir Chizhov, the Russian permanent representative to the EU in an interview to “Interfax”.

“I always said that I am against any artificial deadlines in negotiation processes. And now I say no artificial target date, but quite natural, I think the best natural date for the introduction of visa-free regime would be the Olympics in Sochi”, – explained Vladimir Chizhov.

As the Permanent Representative noted, January, 23 in Moscow there was a meeting of senior officials in charge of the work on implementation of steps to establish a mutual visa-free regime between Russia and Europe. At this meeting a monthly schedule of activities has been set, which will result in immediate report on the winter Russia-EU summit to be held at the end of 2012. This will be the final progress report, after which the direct negotiations on abolishing visas will begin.

In addition to the main activities of the International Commission continues the work on the additions to the existing agreement on visa facilitation. At the moment, the drafters of the document completed their work, and the amendments were sent to the interagency coordination in Russia and the EU. As Chizhov noted, the documents may be signed in the coming months.